In the heart of Beijing’s Central Business District the little oasis of Mare hosts new Spanish cuisine and 30 sumptuous selections of tapas and perhaps the best business lunch (68-88RMB) offering around. A bright open floor plan, a respectable wine selection and wonderful and full bodied smells of spices, seafood and grilled treats await the dinner.
Walking through the luxurious Jin Jiang hotel towards the entrance of its restaurant, Jin Lu, one can’t help but notice an eye-catching poster for the restaurant that reads “Everything You Imagine Chinese Dining to Be…Not” and another that states “Taking Chinese Dining to a New Dimension”.
Ask a food lover in Shanghai for their favorite Italian restaurant and the answers will vary across the board. The reasons are endless: best value for money, best pizza in China, most authentic, hottest chef...the list goes on. However, if you crave top quality, attention to detail and a comfortable atmosphere, Casanova is highly recommended.
Oversized purple lanterns, orange fabrics, and easy-listening muzak combine with water features and dazzling explosions of plastic flora to transform this renovated Shikumen house into a bizarrely eclectic yet intimate space.
The dfcor of this bistro, on the second floor of an historic Xintiandi shikumen is uninspiring - low ceilings, contemporary but dark wood, banquettes, an open kitchen and blaring music.